Objectives To explore the causes and prevention of vascular vagovagal reflexes (VVRs) occurred in the process of pulling out the arterial sheath after cardiac intervention operation.

Methods A total of 3518 patients with elective coronary angiography, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty or coronary artery stenting were divided into eight groups: pure coronary angiography group, PCI group, the old group, the young group, the Men group, the Woman group, femoral artery approach group and radial artery approach group. The incidence of vascular vagovagal reflexes were compared between groups.

Results Vascular vagovagal reflexes in 52 patients occurred in the process of pulling out the arterial sheath after cardiac intervention operation.

Conclusions The femoral artery approach, PCI and old age can increase the incidence of vascular vagovagal reflexes and the femoral artery approach might be the main factor.